Looking for my first 3d printer (Page 1 of 3)

Try the MakerFarm 8" Prusa i3v.  I did and when I finished building it it was square as can be.  Nice setup had everything but the power supply and glass for the bed.

Bob

The Press is still a large unknown.  Solidoodle has said the it is made more for the novice who does not want to tinker with their printer.  If you want to upgrade parts and or tinker then I would not get the Press.  If you just want to print and go, stick with the Press or Da Vinci.

I like the price and features of the solidoodle 4, but there seems to be a lot of 'hate' out there for it and for the solidoodle support and documentation.  I couldn't find any info on its extruder type and driver.

The price is right for the da vinci and it has much better reviews.  Probably because it is sort of locked into an 'average mode' where it isn't ever going to do anything great, but won't do anything horrible.  I don't even want to deal with the product-pending kickstarter companies.

ebay and the For Sale section here don't show very many used options. I'd have to really trust someone to buy a used machine though.  Seems like many people give up and just want to get rid of their 20 pound paper weight! Still the SD 4 at the discount price of 600 is tempting as is the $450 pre-order price on the Press.  Then again the da vinci is just waiting for me on Amazon prime.

I have the SD2 with case and the DaVinci. My experience with the DaVinci is quite good. Plug it in, select a file and print. Of course I have no desire to modify it and am running it stock. Also, I have not had any shipping problems, loose or broken components. I know people do not like to pay 40% more for the XYZ Printing ABS filament, but it includes a chip that provides temperature and filament length to the printer. Another issue for some folks is the inability to use a preferred slicer. And, sometimes I agree with this issue as some artistic prints do not come out the way I hoped. The plus side is that a small group of dedicated techies have figured there way around most proprietary issues.

I still use my SD2 when I want full control, choice of filament and printing at .200mm with supports. Using KISSlicer works great for me on the SD2. One big plus for the SD2 is the size of the case, it is about 1/3 the volume compared to the DaVinci with a 6x6 vs 8x8.

Haha, I like that.  Once it has your own screwdriver scrape marks on it and a bit of blood, it will be your own and you will like it.  I'm looking to print small mechanical pieces for radio controlled models as well as repair parts and other related pieces.  I am not going to designing items to 'sell' or protyping for a business.  Though I am sure I will waste a bunch of filament on Thingverse things for which I have no need.

Do folks 'regret' buying a 3d printer in general?  If they bought it and don't use it?  It seems to be more of - I regret buying brand x because sucked the life out of me but they would use it if it works.

I don't regret my purchase of the SD2. It is my 1st 3D printer and has worked very well for me. There are a bunch of upgrades I would like to do to it but have not cause it just works.  Soon I will have the SD WorkBench and CobbleBot that I per-ordered before the WorkBench came out.  Guess I will have my own little printer farm going. My biggest problem will be finding space for all three. Even though the other two printers will be double the size of the my SD2, I plan on keeping it cause it was my 1st

But there sooo cute and ____________________ would rely like that!!!!

I think a lot of folks hear the hype and the news casts and expect instant or at least easy part. Phrases like you can make a part with the push of a button. Sure you can make parts with a push of a button after you spend hours and hours shopping for a machines learning the software tuning it up making test prints designing a part. so after a hundred hours prep time yes you press a button and wait an hour and half and get a part made.
No one know what it is like to have a 3d printer until you get one. but at the less than $1000 It is reasonable to expect to adjust and tinker.At the  $500 mark there will probably need upgrades.
The person who is rained or trained themselves to understand electronics and mechanics and to fix things can handle a 3d printer. the person whod can not tell a hex bit from a screw driver will struggle.

exactly 

I really did not know what I needed or wanted. and my dream list and budget did not exactly match . I ended up with a used solidoodle 4 not a bad place to start.

I can take a picture if you like  . the biggest draw back is you are limited in temp so the higher temp stuff like nylon and nijaflex is not possible without upgrading the  extruder.
driver ? ?? Marlin firmware if thats what you mean

tin

it is difficult as many of the specs are not anything particularly detailed.
the SD 4 has a decent extruder set up . the Z axis  is a nema 17 motor. and the bed moves in the Z axis  only.
x and y are powered by nema 14s.

Major issues no. the usual  I added a glass plate and had to level the bed adjust z height tighten belts lube guide rods etc.
I expect one has to do the same with any printer in the similar price range.

One of the first ones I had my eye on was the plastic scribbler. It seems like a nice machine. If I felt comfortable spending $850 the printer shipping and a roll of filament  I probably would have gone with the top of the line PS. But I really wanted to spend less than $500 so I ended up with a used SD4.

If you read much here you will find that a ED3 v6 extruder is the preferred hot end for serious printing also PLA needs directed cooling fans. I have a friend that has IIRC three maybe four printers hes uses on a regular basis and a couple more in storage. He pretty much relies on the internal controls and the sd cards. The other nice to have feature is a dual extruder. it allows for dissolveable support or a second color.

If you have a spare $2500 the ultimakers are great machines. But I would have to be making money with it to justify that kind of outlay.
I have also heard good things about the delta style machines.
And I have pondered looking for a deal on a second SD4 that I can upgrade to on board control cleaner supports nema 17 motors on all axis  ED3 v6. And I have pondered a scratch build for printer #2 now that I have an idea of what I want in a printer and what I do not like. And I can buy a few parts at a time .
I will know what printer # 2 will be when I either order it or build it.

So you need to decide what features are important to you and focus on those or set a price point you are comfortable with and get the best you can under the limit.

I wanted a heated bed an assembled printer and something that does not look like it escaped from a high school robotics lab. 

And I am learning that likely the one feature to focus on is a good extruder. as the high end materials become more available you will be out in the cold if you can not reach the higher temps. It is where the rubber hits the road or where the ninjaflex meets the print bed.
Tin

You should do some research into a delta style printer.

I decided to give the plastic scribbler a try and placed the order (1-2 week lead time).  I contacted the company and had a good interaction with them.   Glass bed, all metal hot-end and the ability to print Nylon, poly carbonate and ninjaflex for slightly less than the price of the S4 delivered.
 
I'll report back when I make my first print.  Thanks everyone for your input.

the PS dont come with duel extruders. video says it can be upgraded to that later meaning Modified. the Solidoodle workbench series do have all those features plus duel extruders and same price range for the Aprentice and few hundred more for the big 12x12x12 platform workbench.

I like my SD2 but if I had held out a year and half could have had the Apprentice for same price I paid